The Hearthside Lace Heart is a small, airy ornament: a cranberry-red lace heart edged with a row of cream picots and finished with a sturdy cream hanging loop. It looks delicate on a tree branch, but it is worked in size 3 cotton thread, so it holds its shape after blocking.
The red body has an open center ring, twelve spokes, and large lacy openings toward the edges. The cream border frames it with tiny beads that catch the light. It is a classic Christmas color scheme, and it also works as a Valentine’s or gift-tag ornament.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished heart measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide by 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall, not including the hanging loop, which adds about 2 in (5.1 cm).
Construction is fully in the round. You start with a small circle, then work one shaping round of chain arches of different lengths that turns the circle into a heart. A single-crochet round closes the outline, and a cream picot border and chain loop finish the ornament. There is nothing to join or sew.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide x 3.25 in (8.3 cm) tall, plus a 2 in (5.1 cm) loop
- Skill level: Easy-intermediate (thread work, counting chain arches)
- Terminology: US crochet terms
- Yarn weight: Size 3 cotton crochet thread
- Hook: 2.25 mm (US B-1)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: Single motif worked in the round
- Piece size before border: 3 in (7.6 cm) wide x 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall
- Border depth: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on each side
Materials
Thread advice: Choose a mercerized size 3 cotton thread. It has crisp stitch definition, a slight sheen, and takes starch well. Avoid fuzzy or very soft acrylics, which blur the lace openings and won’t hold a sharp point.
- Color A – Cranberry Red: 5 g / about 20 m (22 yd)
- Color B – Cream: 3 g / about 12 m (13 yd)
Tools:
– 2.25 mm (US B-1) crochet hook
– Fine tapestry needle
– Small sharp scissors
– Stitch marker
– Blocking board or foam mat, rustproof pins
– Spray starch or a fabric stiffener (optional)
These quantities include a margin of about 25% for your gauge swatch and weaving in ends. One ball of each color will make many ornaments.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sp(s) – space(s)
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- beg – beginning
- RS – right side
Special stitch – Picot: Ch 3, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook. The picot is not counted as a stitch and is never worked into later.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Lace gauge is measured by checkpoints, not by a stitch swatch. Work Rounds 1–2 as a test piece before you commit.
- After Round 1: the circle measures 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across.
- After Round 2: the circle measures 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across, gently flattened.
- After Round 4: the heart measures 3 in (7.6 cm) wide x 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall, lightly stretched.
- After Round 5: the heart measures 3.5 in (8.9 cm) x 3.25 in (8.3 cm).
- Chain gauge: 10 ch = 1 in (2.5 cm).
If your circle is too big: go down to a 2.0 mm hook, or chain more tightly. If it’s too small: go up to a 2.5 mm hook. Small differences of 0.125 in (0.3 cm) can be fixed in blocking. Bigger differences add up through the shaping round and distort the heart.
Pattern
Round 1 – Center Ring and Spokes (Color A)
Ch 6, sl st in first ch to form a ring.
Ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), [dc in ring, ch 2] 11 times, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch-5.
Count: 12 dc spokes and 12 ch-2 sps (36 sts).
The ch-6 ring leaves a clear open center, which is the round “eye” in the middle of the finished heart.
Round 2 – Circle of Arches
Ch 1, sc in same st as join, ch 6, [sc in next dc, ch 6] 11 times, sl st in first sc.
Count: 12 sc and 12 ch-6 loops (84 sts).
Place a marker in the joining sc. This is the top-center anchor of the heart. In working order, call the twelve ch-6 loops Loop 1 through Loop 12. Loop 1 is the first loop after the marker and Loop 12 is the last loop before it.
Checkpoint: 1.75 in (4.4 cm) across.
Round 3 – Heart Shaping
This round makes the heart. Long arches push the lobes out, a short arch at each end pulls the top down into a dip, and a single extra-long arch at the bottom becomes the point. Each sc below goes into the center of the named ch-6 loop, worked around the chain.
Ch 1, sc in marked sc (top-center anchor). Keep the marker in this sc.
- ch 5, sc in Loop 1
- ch 9, sc in Loop 2
- ch 9, sc in Loop 3
- ch 9, sc in Loop 4
- ch 8, sc in Loop 5
- ch 8, sc in Loop 6
- ch 12, sc in Loop 7 (bottom arch – becomes the point)
- ch 8, sc in Loop 8
- ch 8, sc in Loop 9
- ch 9, sc in Loop 10
- ch 9, sc in Loop 11
- ch 9, sc in Loop 12
- ch 5, sl st in first sc.
Count: 13 anchor sc + 108 ch (5+9+9+9+8+8+12+8+8+9+9+9+5) = 121 sts, forming 13 arches.
The two halves mirror each other: 5, 9, 9, 9, 8, 8, then the shared 12, then 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 5. If your arch lengths don’t mirror, your heart will lean.
Round 4 – Solid Outline
In this round, you work only into the arches, around the chain. Skip every anchor sc. Skipping the top-center anchor is what pinches the dip into place.
Ch 1, then:
- 4 sc in first ch-5 arch
- 10 sc in each of next 3 ch-9 arches
- 8 sc in each of next 2 ch-8 arches
- In the ch-12 arch: 6 sc, (sc, ch 2, sc), 6 sc (point)
- 8 sc in each of next 2 ch-8 arches
- 10 sc in each of next 3 ch-9 arches
- 4 sc in last ch-5 arch
- sl st in first sc. Fasten off Color A.
Count: 114 sc + 1 ch-2 point sp.
Per side: 4 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 8 + 8 + 7 = 57 sc from the top dip to the point (the 7 is the 6 sc plus one sc of the point pair). Two sides x 57 = 114.
The ch-9 arches get one more sc than they have chains, which gives the lobes room to curve. The ch-5 arches get one fewer, which tightens the dip.
Checkpoint: 3 in (7.6 cm) wide x 2.75 in (7.0 cm) tall, lightly stretched.
Border
Border gauge: One picot repeat (3 sc + picot) covers about 0.2 in (0.5 cm) of edge. The border adds 0.25 in (0.6 cm) on every side.
Round 5 – Picot Edge (Color B)
With RS facing, join Color B with sc in the ch-2 point sp, picot, sc in same sp.
Side 1 (point up to dip): [sc in next 3 sc, picot] 19 times. The 19th picot sits right at the top dip.
Side 2 (dip down to point): [sc in next 3 sc, picot] 18 times, sc in next 3 sc, sl st in first sc. Do not fasten off yet if you plan to make the loop right away (see below). Otherwise, fasten off.
Count: 116 sc (2 in the point + 57 per side) and 38 picots (1 at the point + 19 on Side 1 + 18 on Side 2).
Why the math works: Each side has exactly 57 sc, and 57 ÷ 3 = 19 repeats, so the picots land evenly with no leftovers. Side 1’s last picot is the dip picot. Side 2’s last repeat skips its picot because the point picot is already there. The result is symmetric: 18 side picots on each half, plus one centered picot at the dip and one at the point.
Hanging Loop (Color B)
Join Color B with sl st in the sc directly below the dip picot. Ch 40, sl st in same sc. Ch 1, then sl st in the back bump of each of the 40 ch. Sl st in the base sc and fasten off.
The sl st pass makes the loop firm and rope-like so it won’t twist flat. Folded, the loop is 2 in (5.1 cm) tall.
Final Blocking
- Weave in all ends along the solid sc band of Round 4, not through the lace arches.
- Soak the heart in cool water for a few minutes, then roll it in a towel to remove excess water.
- Pin it to your board, starting with the point and the dip, so the centerline runs straight.
- Pin out each lobe into an even curve to 3.5 in (8.9 cm) wide, and pin the point down to 3.25 in (8.3 cm) total height.
- Pin through each picot so it stands out from the edge like a small bead.
- Use a pin or your fingertip to open each lace space. Make sure the center ring is round and all 12 spokes are straight.
- Spray with starch or brush on diluted stiffener if you want a crisp ornament.
- Let it dry completely, at least 6 hours, before unpinning.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Center ring is open and round, and has 12 evenly spaced spokes.
- The arch lengths in Round 3 mirror each other across the centerline.
- Round 4 has 57 sc on each side and a ch-2 point.
- The heart measures 3 in x 2.75 in (7.6 cm x 7.0 cm) before the border.
- Round 5 has 38 picots: one at the point, one at the dip, and 18 on each side.
- Finished size is 3.5 in x 3.25 in (8.9 cm x 8.3 cm).
- The loop is firm and centered at the dip, and measures 2 in (5.1 cm).
- All ends are hidden in solid stitches.
Troubleshooting
Heart leans to one side: An arch in Round 3 is the wrong length. Compare the two halves and redo the round.
No visible dip at the top: The top-center anchor was worked into in Round 4, or the ch-5 arches got 5 sc. Use 4 sc and skip the anchor.
Point is rounded: Check that you worked (sc, ch 2, sc) at the exact center of the ch-12 arch, then pin the point firmly while blocking.
Edge ruffles: Your chain tension is looser than your sc tension. Try going down a hook size for Round 4 only.
Edge cups: Your chains are too tight. Loosen your chains or go up a hook size for Round 3.
Picots lie flat: Pull the sl st snug after each ch 3, then pin each picot open while blocking.
Loop twists: Make sure you worked the sl st pass into the back bumps of the chains.
Care
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap, press out the water in a towel, and re-block flat to dry. Store flat or hanging, away from heavy ornaments that could crush the lace.
Final Notes
This pattern relies on a short chain of measurements. A 0.75 in (1.9 cm) ring grows into a 1.75 in (4.4 cm) circle. One shaping round of mirrored arches turns that circle into a 3 in x 2.75 in (7.6 cm x 7.0 cm) heart with 57 sc on each side. A picot border divides evenly into 19 repeats per side and brings the heart to 3.5 in x 3.25 in (8.9 cm x 8.3 cm). If you check each stage as you go, every heart you make will match the last, whether you hang one or a whole tree full.
Happy crocheting!